The Compassion
Project
By R. B. STUART
For
Visitors, Volunteers, Fosters and Adopters who graciously give their time and
support to the Asian Rescues at The Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation. My
hope is to assist you in understanding the trauma and torment of the Canine
abuse survivors you love and care for. To not view, Marc Ching’s
slaughterhouse pictures, the video’s or read his Facebook posts at least once,
is to avoid their abuse, while ignoring their experiences. The below is meant
to provide you with that missing link to their recovery and survival. To give
you the scope necessary in order to understand their plight---fully,
The
beautiful, innocent creatures rescued from Asia by Marc Ching and brought to
America in the hopes of finding for the first time, a gentle hand, a
compassionate heart, understanding, commitment and love in a fur-ever home---is
our goal for them.
The resilient, courageous slaughterhouse survivors of
the Asian, Dog Meat Trade, are given another chance at life in a foreign land
from which they were born, victimized and traumatized. Through the Grace of God
and trust in Marc, they have survived extreme torture and abuse that the
average human could never recover from---but “they” have. Although not all make
a full recovery, nor ever make the journey to Los Angeles, so the Asian Dogs
you’ll meet and share your homes with are the “lucky ones.” The others…too
severe to survive, have returned to their creator on the wings of angels. Where
they watch and protect their pack mates from above.
I preface this in such a way, to bring awareness to
those noble Souls who will commit their lives to an Asian Rescue from The
Compassion Project, a Dog who may capture your heart, or who may sniff
you out and desire to share their
world---pleasing you. But getting there---will take work…
These are not average American domesticated
Dogs or American Rescues who understand English, enjoy car rides, obey
commands, retrieve a ball, jump to catch a Frisbee, swim in the brisk waves of
the ocean, lick the ice cream off a child’s face, sit for a treat, or roam
freely in a backyard---YET.
No, these Dogs are ultra-special, survivor’s from a
war of sorts, with battle scars, some visible, some not. Experiencing the
darkest of nights, shivering with fear, hungry, thirsty for affection, sleeping
in bloody terror that worsens when they wake.
They need empathy, guidance, patience, respect,
unconditional love, understanding, limitations, boundaries, structure, rules, a
strong pack leader with calm, assertive energy.
They don’t comprehend English, they don’t know basic
commands, they have never been on a leash, they’ve never been on a walk, aren’t
familiar with grass, blow dryers, stairs, bathtub’s, cars, fire hydrants, bicycles,
tree’s, motorcycles, trucks, or screaming children.
They are sensitive, psychologically scarred,
emotionally damaged, some are insecure, some have the physical limitations of
three limbs.
So if you feel you have the fortitude to enrich the
life of an Asian Rescue, please keep the following in mind. And remember, their
exposure to slaughterhouses wasn’t years ago---but merely weeks ago:
§ They
need a peaceful, safe, calm environment with their own special area for
sleeping and feeding. Establishing routines and repetition is important (it
takes 100 times for a dog to learn something).
§ Until
they are acclimated to their new environment; they should not be left alone for
hours in crates, cages, cars, apartments, locked in bathrooms, left in a fenced
in backyard (chained or unchained), or near swimming pools.
§ Until
they respond to simple commands and feel secure in their new life, they may not
be ready to socialize with other American
domesticated pets who already know the drill. Avoid groups of people,
parties, concerts, events, loud noises. Please don’t leave your Asian Rescue
with family or friends while they are still learning their environment. As they
may not be as sensitive to understanding the plight of a dog recovering from
abuse.
§ Never
hit or scream at an abused dog to reprimand. They have experienced severe
physical abuse and you want to gain their trust, not make them fear you. They
were brought to America to never be exposed to pain and suffering again….not to
have the pain and suffering continue.
§ They
may be food or toy aggressive, as they’ve had to fight for food in the past,
and have never had their own toys before. So be aware when feeding or playing.
§ Don’t
push yourself onto your Asian Rescue. Let them come to you and learn to trust
you. If they’re hovering in a corner with a distant stare, or under a table,
coax them out maybe with food, but never force them by pulling on a leash or
collar, or pushing them into a crate, especially a fearful dog as its only way
to protect themselves is by using their teeth. They are still recovering
mentally from the stresses of what they saw, smelled, felt and tasted, just
like a War Hero, so they may need the time to just sleep, rest and heal. Be
peaceful, sit by them on the floor and read a book or the like…with enough dedication
they’ll come to you when they sense you are not going to harm them. He/she may
begin following you around the house or licking you, which is a good sign as they
are bonding.
§ Don’t
overstimulate
too quickly with brushing their coat, a message, a belly rub or constantly
patting them, hugging them, prodding their bodies inspecting their eyes / ears
/ mouths / tail / toenails. Nor finger the incisions from their scars or
surgeries. Let them heal from that experience of being torched, beaten, hung, boiled
or amputated. Allow their body to recover from the numbness of beatings, to
enjoy a soft hand. With amputated dogs, they’ll need to relearn how to walk on
three legs, and strengthen their muscles to do so. Their balance is altered.
Let them learn how to recalibrate their body with a missing limb. They are
struggling too, and trying to adapt in a new world.
§ Have
plenty of patience with house
breaking. The Asian Rescue was never taught about going to the bathroom on
newspaper, a wee-wee pad, or grass. Asian Rescues aren’t accustomed to walking
on grass, so it may take some time for them to realize that’s where they’re
supposed to “GO.” Carpeting has the same feel under their paws as grass, so you
must teach them the difference. Until you’re certain they’ve learned how to hold-it
and go the bathroom outside, leave newspaper / wee-wee pads on the bathroom
floor, or somewhere away from their
food.
§ Many
may “hold it” during a walk, but go to the bathroom when they come back in. So
bring treats outside with you, and when they go to the bathroom outside praise
them “good pee-pee or good poopy” and give them a treat. Create a word and use
it consistently so they can learn that the word is associated with going to the
bathroom outside---I use the word OUTSIDE! when I grab his harness and leash.
Take them out when they first wake, throughout the day, before bed, especially
after a meal within 15 minutes or so. A dog should urinate once for every hour
it has held it while in the house. If your dog’s been holding it for 4 hours,
then expect him to pee 4 times when he’s out. 6 hours / 6 times and so on. But
never let your dog hold it for more than 10 hours as it affects the kidneys. You’ll
need to create a solid routine by taking him/her out so they’ll understand what
you want. Eventually he’ll learn “to wait” / “hold-it.”
§ The
Asian Rescue may be afraid of unusual sounds or items that they aren’t familiar
with: plastic bags, statues, people - men or women, children, people wearing
hats, other dogs, cats, slippery wood floors, being bathed, the car, wind from
a car window, sound of siren’s, a smoke alarm, an alarm clock, the ring of a
cell phone, the ticking of a toaster oven timer, the television screen
sights/sounds, doorbell, knock at the door, rain, thunderstorms. So always
be prepared and be cautious while they learn a new environment, it’s
different from the prison walls and cement they know so well.
There are a select few Asian Rescues that have
adjusted to their new American life quickly, while others need a longer
recovery time. You will need enormous patience, And please don’t give up and
leave them isolated in a room, crate, or yard, or give them away to a shelter
because it was too difficult. That wasn’t the future Marc promised them.
So spend time with them at the AHWF center, walk
them, sit with them, take them home for a day, a night, a weekend or two, or
three before you commit to adopt. Take turns with different dogs to be
absolutely sure. They may be timid, skittish, outgoing or aggressive at first,
but after your dedication, training, gentle hand, understanding and love, good
food, clean water, and walks will build their self-esteem---you’ll see them
transform into a gentle, smart, balanced, happy, friendly and well behaved pet.
Eventually as you develop a healthy bond, smiles will appear on their face, a
tail will wag when they see you. The play time, cuddling and belly rubs you’ve
always wanted will be yours…as you have nurtured your Asian Rescue into a
domesticated American dog---a loyal companion---and fur-ever friend.
Molly #26
With
Love and Gratitude ----From a
Fellow Abuse Survivor, R. B. STUART
© COPYRIGHT 2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO REPRODUCTION WITHOUT PERMISSION
STUART ROAD MEDIA
